RIYADH: Eight distinguished scholars from various parts of the world, including a top Saudi scholar, won the prestigious King Faisal Prize in different categories on Tuesday.
The glittering event was held under the patronage of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Makkah governor and chairman of the King Faisal Foundation, who delivered the welcome address. The awards were in five categories: Service to Islam, Arabic language and literature, Islamic studies, medicine and science.
The King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam was awarded to Grand Mosque imam and former Shoura Council Chairman Saleh bin Humaid. Humaid is a consultant at the Saudi Royal Court, member of the Commission of Senior Scholars and president of the Jeddah-based International Islamic Fiqh Academy.
The prize was awarded in appreciation of his leading role in the International Islamic Fiqh Academy. He has put forth a strenuous effort, profound wisdom, deep vision and positive influence in dealing with contemporary fiqh (jurisprudence) issues.
Prof. Abdullah bin Yousif Al-Ghunaim, president of the Kuwaiti Studies and Research Center, was the winner of the King Faisal International Prize for Islamic Studies. It was given to him in recognition of his seminal contributions both as an author and critical editor of original manuscripts of Muslim geographic legacy and his distinguished venture to revive ancient Arabic terms on shapes of the earth’s surface and adapt them to contemporary geography.
The King Faisal International Prize for Arabic Language and Literature was awarded to Prof. Mohammed Al-Ghazawani Muftah from Morocco and Prof. Mohammed Abdul Muttalib Mustafa from Egypt.
Professor Mohammed Muftah is recognized for his distinguished methodical and theoretical endeavors in Arabic language and literature. He has employed modern concepts in analyzing and describing Arabic poetic texts, perceiving them within the context of human culture.
Professor Mohammed Abdul Muttalib is recognized for his important accomplishments in applied analysis of Arabic poetry; he has competently and skillfully coined his analysis of poetic texts with deep knowledge of Arabic culture and insight of contemporary literary and stylistic concepts.
Professor Han Grrit Brunner and Professor Joris Andre Veltman from the Netherlands shared the King Faisal Prize for Medicine for clinical application of next generation genetics.
Professors Brunner and Veltman were selected as winners in recognition of their prominent role in moving into clinical practice a novel method of analyzing DNA, referred to as next generation sequencing. This has greatly improved the way of identifying genes that cause disease in patients and families suspected of having an inherited disorder. They have also initiated strong international collaboration in both research and diagnostics. They have published widely in outstanding scientific journals and have been recognized by their peers as innovative scientists.
The King Faisal Prize for Science in Biology was shared by Professor Vamsi Krishna Mootha from the US and Professor Stephen Philip Jackson from the UK.
Professor Mootha has used the mitochondrion (the cellular power plant) as a model to identify the link between pivotal molecular factors involved in mitochondrial dysfunction and major human diseases, such as diabetes and other metabolic disorders. His contribution provides a framework for novel diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Professor Stephen Philip Jackson is recognized for his outstanding contribution to defining the link between the basic mechanism of genomic DNA instability and its relationship to cancer. Specifically, he unraveled the salient components of the pathway involved in DNA repair. He is also credited with an innovative approach to bring his findings into tangible therapeutic products to treat cancer.
In his opening address, Prince Khaled said the winners will be presented with the awards in the next two months.
Prince Khaled said that merit and excellence are the criteria for selection. As testimony to the high caliber of prize recipients and to the importance of the research carried out by KFIP laureates, many winners have gone on to win Nobel Prizes for the same works that were recognized by KFIP, he said.
King Faisal Foundation was established in 1976 by the eight sons of the late King Faisal. Each of the five prize categories consists of a certificate, hand-written in Arabic calligraphy summarizing the laureate’s work, a commemorative 24-carat, 200-gram gold medal, uniquely cast for each prize, and a cash award of SR750,000 ($200,000). The co-winners in any category share the monetary grant.
Saleh bin Humaid wins King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam
Saleh bin Humaid wins King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam
South Korea seeks to build economic, cultural relations with Saudi
- Seoul focusing on hydrogen supply chains and defense
- Media event saw 65 reporters from across world attend
SEOUL: The Korean Embassy in Riyadh recently hosted reporters from Saudi Arabia and across the globe at the week-long World Journalists Conference here to enhance the Asia nation’s relations with other countries.
“As a Saudi journalist, your experience and exchanges of views in Korea, along with your insights, will provide a great introduction about Korea to Saudi Arabia,” Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Choi Byung Hyuk told Arab News.
“Cooperation is expanding beyond traditional construction and energy sectors to include areas like plants, hydrogen supply chains, defense, and culture — leveraging Korea’s economic development expertise, experience, and the capabilities and technologies of its excellent companies,” he added.
The WJC invited over 65 international journalists including an Arab News reporter to the week-long conference organized by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Korea Press Foundation.
The participants discussed various issues including the role of media in war reporting, efforts to achieve world peace, and Korea’s foreign policy.
The conference included sessions on the impact of Web3 on digital media and journalism and Seoul’s Tourism Renewal plan.
The organizers, during the trip, highlighted Korea’s culture, landscapes, history, diplomatic relations, and emerging scientific advancements.
“Korea has developed economically and is also well-known culturally to Saudi youth through K-pop, K-movies, and dramas,” the Korean ambassador explained.
Hyuk said the natural environment of Korea makes it a great place to visit and explore. “Korean people, like Saudis, are known for their warmth and hospitality, which will be quickly evident through long-term interactions.”
He added that there was a growing Muslim community in Korea.
Hyuk said the visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Korea in November 2022 and President Yoon Suk-Yeol’s trip to Saudi Arabia in October 2023 has led to “rapid progress in bilateral relations.”
In his remarks at the opening of the 12th WJC conference, Jong Hyun Park, president of the Journalists Association of Korea, said: “Since 2013, in the spirit of the global era, foreign journalists, who are engaged in similar deliberations and tasks within our global village, have been gathering at the WJC. This assembly aims to tackle common global challenges and engage in meaningful discussions about the future of journalism.”
“Our unity is rooted in a shared commitment to journalism, transcending differences in nationality, gender, skin, color, and ideology. We hope you will seize the opportunity to explore South Korea’s rich traditional culture and unique characteristics of each region, including visits to Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, Incheon, Suwon, Ansan, and the demilitarized zone,” Park added.
The speakers at the event included Joo Hee Lee, the managing editor of the Korea Herald, Anum Hanif, the producer of the Hum News Network in Pakistan, Nicola Smith, Asia correspondent for The Telegraph in the UK, Leonardo Casa, the deputy director of BioBio Chile, and Ki Yon Kil, the president and CEO of the Seoul Tourism Organization.
The tour included Incheon, Seoul, Suwon, Yongin and Ansan, where journalists were able to meet local people and see how technology was shaping communities.
There was also a visit to the demilitarized zone and the Dora observatory. Through binoculars, visitors were able to view the mountains and farmlands on the North Korea side, and the city of Gaeseong.
First pilgrims from India arrive for 2024 Hajj
- India is sending a total of 175,025 pilgrims in this pilgrimage season
- Special Hajj flights for Indian pilgrims depart from 10 cities on Thursday
NEW DELHI: The first group of pilgrims from India arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday to perform this year’s Hajj, as the world’s most populous country launched special flights for the annual pilgrimage.
With over 200 million Indians professing Islam, the Hindu-majority country has the world’s largest Muslim-minority population. Under the 2024 Hajj quota, 175,025 worshippers will travel to Saudi Arabia for the spiritual journey that is one of the five pillars of Islam.
This year, Hajj is expected to begin on June 14 and end on June 19. While the pilgrimage can be performed over five or six days, many pilgrims choose to arrive early for what may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fulfill their religious duty.
One of the first Hajj flights for Indian pilgrims departed on Thursday from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.
“The flight carrying the first lot of 285 people took off at 2:20 a.m. on Thursday,” Kausar Jahan, chairperson of the Delhi State Hajj Committee, told Arab News.
In Madinah, the pilgrims were welcomed by the Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Suhel Ajaz Khan, and his team, as well as the Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Service, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, and the Saudi Vice Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Abdul Fattah Mashat.
“First flight of Indian Hajj pilgrims arrives in Madinah (and) receives a warm reception,” the Indian Hajj Mission in Jeddah wrote on Facebook. “With the arrival of the first flight … India’s Hajj 2024 has begun.”
A.P. Abdullakutty, chairman of the Hajj Committee of India, said several flights took off from different parts of India on Thursday.
“We have several embarkation points, and on May 9th, the first day of the Hajj flights, several planes will be taking off from at least 10 places across India,” he told Arab News.
The list of cities includes Bangalore, Hyderabad, Jaipur, and Srinagar, capital of the Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, a Muslim-majority territory between India and Pakistan, both of which claim it in full and rule in part.
India’s Hajj contingent this year includes more than 4,000 women who will perform the Hajj on their own, without a mahram, or male guardian, Abdullakutty said.
They represent a group of women pilgrims who have been able to travel to Saudi Arabia alone since last year, following the Kingdom’s 2022 decision to lift a rule that required women to be accompanied by a mahram. Those who had no such companion could only travel in large groups of other women.
India’s preparations for this year’s Hajj were overseen by Muktesh K. Pardeshi, secretary of consular, passport, visa and overseas Indian affairs at the Ministry of External Affairs, who concluded an official visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
“During his visit, the secretary conducted a review of preparations for Hajj 2024 in Jeddah and Madinah,” the ministry said in a statement.
“He met with (Saudi) Vice Hajj Minister Dr. Abdul Fattah Mashat, and discussed logistical arrangements and infrastructure developments aimed at the welfare and comfort for pilgrims.”
Saudi Arabia leads condemnation of attack on UNRWA headquarters in occupied Jerusalem
- The Kingdom said it holds the “Israeli occupation” responsible for the recurring crimes against innocent civilians and aid workers
- Saudi Arabia urged the international community to take serious action in halting Israel’s human rights violations
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Thursday condemned the Israeli settler attack on the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees headquarters in occupied Jerusalem.
The Kingdom said it holds the “Israeli occupation” responsible for the recurring crimes against innocent civilians and aid workers, according to a statement issued by the Saudi Foreign Ministry.
It urged the international community to take serious action in halting Israel’s human rights violations. “The occupation must be held accountable for its ongoing crimes that violate international law,” the statement said.
#بيان | تُعرب وزارة الخارجية عن إدانة المملكة العربية السعودية الاعتداء السافر من قبل مستوطنين إسرائيليين على مقر وكالة الأمم المتحدة لإغاثة وتشغيل اللاجئين الفلسطينيين (الأونروا) في القدس المحتلة، والذي تم تحت مراقبة ونظر شرطة الاحتلال الاسرائيلي. pic.twitter.com/AclZ27mfG6
— وزارة الخارجية (@KSAMOFA) May 9, 2024
UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini earlier said that a group of Israeli protesters had attacked the agency’s headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem after calls for protests against UNRWA by an Israeli municipal official.
Jordan condemned the attack as a “blatant defiance of international law, which aims to protect UN facilities.”
It called on the international community to enforce international humanitarian law “immediately and effectively,” and oblige Israel to prevent attacks on relief workers who “play a major humanitarian role in providing aid and services to Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories.”
KSrelief provides shelter, aid to people in flood-hit Yemen
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has distributed emergency shelter and other support to people across Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
The agency provided nearly 200 tents, more than 600 shelter bags, and food to those affected by the recent flooding in the Hadramout governorate and the Al-Masila district of Al-Mahra governorate.
KSrelief continues to help vulnerable people in war-torn Yemen.
KSrelief providing ongoing medical care in Yemen
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSrelief is providing ongoing cardiac surgery and catheterization for children and adults at Prince Mohammed bin Salman Hospital in Yemen’s Aden governorate.
The project runs until May 15, with 23 medical specialists participating in cooperation with the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
The medical team has already performed 35 cardiac catheterizations and eight open-heart surgeries, all of which were successful.
Meanwhile, KSrelief has completed another medical project which included 226 procedures for people with burns, deformities, and sports injuries.
This initiative took place from April 27 to May 5, 2024, in Yemen’s Aden governorate.
In addition, there were 1,026 individuals treated at the dermatology clinic, 2,317 at the family medicine clinic, and 587 at the dentistry clinic.
Training was also provided for 78 staffers in sports rehabilitation.
